One of them is the arctic ground squirrel ( Urocitellus parryii), a small animal measuring 15 inches and weighing less than 2 pounds that abounds throughout the arctic strip, from Alaska to Siberia, passing through the north of Canada. This is why scientists use the Arctic, and the species that live in it, as sentinels of climate change. The consequences of this discrepancy remain to be seen.įor different reasons, such as the thermal amplification caused by melting ice or the extended hours of sunshine, global warming is more evident in arctic areas. The results of their work, published in the journal Science, show that 25 years have been enough for climate change to disrupt one of the most sophisticated survival strategies, shaped by millions of years of evolution: female ground squirrels are coming out of hibernation earlier. In the spring, when the snow begins to recede, they come out of their torpor and once again become the keystone of the arctic terrestrial ecosystem, being preyed upon by foxes, lynxes, wolves, bears and eagles in regions where food is not abundant.įor almost three decades, a group of scientists has studied two populations of these rodents. There, they sleep through the winter, reducing their metabolic activity to 1% and lowering their temperature to an almost freezing point, one of the most extreme hibernation strategies known to science. Tree squirrels do not hibernate during the winter, but they employ methods to prepare for and survive the colder months when food will be scarce.When the cold comes, arctic ground squirrels burrow deep into the ground, until they reach the frozen layer of the earth known as permafrost. Whilst squirrels are usually solitary creatures, they may share nests during the winter to help each other stay warm. Shivering is a tactic they employ to stay warm, as it helps them to generate heat. Their fur also provides additional insulation when they curl up in their nests. Squirrels have dense fur coats that help keep them warm when venturing out in cold weather. Unlike animals that hibernate, squirrels remain somewhat active throughout the winter, venturing out of their nests on milder days to retrieve food they've cached, if they can remember where they've hidden it! These nests provide protection from the elements and help maintain a stable temperature for the squirrels inside. They use layers of materials to keep nests insulated, including twigs, leaves, moss, and grass. Squirrels build well-insulated nests, often called dreys, in the branches of trees or inside tree cavities. Other creatures use this method to prepare for winter months, including bears who even have a week dedicated to this called Fat Bear Week! 3. Build up Fat ReservesĪs well as creating food reserves ready for winter, squirrels also prepare by eating more food than normal in order to build up their fat reserves. Several other creatures also hoard food to eat at another time, including chipmunks, crabs, hamsters, and birds. Squirrels don't remember all of the hiding places they've created, so the seeds they've forgotten about will sprout into new trees or plants. They collect and bury nuts underground during the fall in various locations, so they have plenty of food to see them through the cold winter months.įun Fact: these food reserves don't just benefit squirrels - they help the ecosystem too. Squirrels are famous for hoarding (called 'caching') food. Squirrels employ several methods that help them survive the challenges of winter: 1. Instead, tree squirrels will spend much of their time inside their dens when the weather is very cold, but they'll still venture out. Tree squirrels do not hibernate, but most species of ground squirrels do hibernate. Hibernation means a decrease in body temperature, slow breathing, low heart rate, and low metabolic rate.Įxamples of animals that hibernate include some species of bats, bumble bees, ladybugs, and wood frogs. Hibernation is a state of dormancy that some animals enter into during the winter so they can survive when food is scarce and temperatures are cold. Squirrels are known for their energetic behavior, especially when they're darting around collecting nuts and acorns during the fall and stealing seeds from bird feeders! But have you ever wondered why you don't see many squirrels during the winter? Do squirrels hibernate? Let's find out! Do Squirrels Hibernate? What They Do During The Winter
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